Car Won't Start

[driversdomainuk 8]

Hi

 

I have had this intermittent problem with my 205, won't start. Usually I try 5 or 10 times and it will fire up. However, now it won't start at all.

 

Weird thing is, is that it initialises up and I can hear the initial starter "click" once as in its about to start, then nothing. Other times it initialises up under the bonet and there is not that starter click.

 

I am wondering if the alarm/immobiliser is playing up, although if I try and start the car when it is on, nothing happens, no initialisation or starter click, (as to be expected), so not sure it's that. Have replace starter motor and had garage have a look and they replaced a few "dried out" wires but problems still here....

 

What should be checked next? Sorry I can't be anymore specific

 

Cheers

Rob

Edited February 12, 2015 by driversdomainuk

[aldworth33 45 1 Cars]

Does it bump start?

[aldworth33 45 1 Cars]

If it was me id eliminate the engine earth first because I know tonnes of people who have assumed starter faults and it's been a shaggy engine earth strap

[driversdomainuk 8]

Haven't tried to dump start it yet as its in a garage and I will need to reverse bump start it onto a road!

 

I would have thought the garage would have checked the earth as they had it for a while

[Anthony 1,003]

"Clicking" starters are common, usually down to either a dying starter (particularly the original fat-body style ones) or poor wiring to the solenoid leading to excessive voltage drop, especially if you still have the brown multiplug near the gearbox.

[aldworth33 45 1 Cars]

You'd assume but I have worked in garages where people don't know how to check an engine earth lol just stick a jump lead from the battery negative to a clean bit of metal on the engine and see if it fires. Takes 2secs and is honestly so often overlooked in my experience. Best to eliminate all the simple things 1st

[driversdomainuk 8]

"Clicking" starters are common, usually down to either a dying starter (particularly the original fat-body style ones) or poor wiring to the solenoid leading to excessive voltage drop, especially if you still have the brown multiplug near the gearbox.

Sorry it's not clicking as such, more of a single click as in its about to start. Doesn't continue to keep clicking

[welshpug 1,661]

try powering the solenoid directly, see what happens.

[Anthony 1,003]

Sorry it's not clicking as such, more of a single click as in its about to start. Doesn't continue to keep clicking

That's what I mean - a single "click" as you turn the key and then nothing until you release and re-turn the key.

 

Rapid, repeated clicking is normally a discharged battery or poor positive/earth connection issue.

[driversdomainuk 8]

Well I have tried the jump lead idea but still didn't work

[aldworth33 45 1 Cars]

Then do as wp said and put a direct feed across to the solenoid, chances are it's wiring just gotta find which one

[driversdomainuk 8]

I will leave it to the garage as I don't really know anything about this stuff